Plurality of tiles

ABSTRACT

A plurality of tiles, each comprising eight weaved strips formed from curved plywood is disclosed. Each tile is nailed to the surface through exposed flaps. The exposed flaps are then covered by subsequent tiles, thus creating exotic wood weave look that has no seams.

REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) and is a continuation application of the prior application Ser. No. 10/717,532.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plurality of tiles useful for finishing and decorating walls and ceilings. More specifically, the plurality of tiles comprising tiles formed from strips of curved plywood according to this invention creates exotic wood weave look that has no seams.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, in order give a wall or a ceiling exotic weave look that has no seams, long strips of bamboo strips, leather or other pliable material are weaved together to cover the desired area. This requires custom installation and can be quite expensive. Alternatively, ceramic and other tiles replicating weaved look can be used. However, use of tiles creates seams, which is undesirable. What is needed is a tile covering that can replicate the exotic weave look that has no seams and that can be purchased in desired quantities and easily installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention satisfies this need. Each tile is formed from strips of curved plywood and plurality of tiles are assembled in a way creating exotic wood weave look that has no seams. Each tile comprises eight strips, each having a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as a concealed flap, a first raised portion, a middle portion, a second raised portion, and an exposed flap.

The eight strips are weaved in a way that the top surface of the concealed flap of the first strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the second strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the eighth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the third strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fourth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the eight strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fifth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the sixth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the first strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the seventh strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the eighth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the first strip.

Installation of the tiles according to this invention is easy. The exposed flaps of one tile are nailed to the surface. The exposed flaps of the next tile are slidably inserted into the first and second raised portions on the strip on the first tile, thus covering the nails and creating a seamless continuous appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the tile according to this invention;

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the strip from which the tile according to this invention is comprised;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show top views of the plurality of tiles according to this invention being installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. The same numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

Viewing FIG. 1, there is shown a tile comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth strips, indicated, respectively, by numerals 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80.

Viewing now FIG. 2, First Strip 10 is formed from curved plywood and comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. Numeral 10 a indicates a concealed flap. Numeral 10 b indicates a first raised portion. Numeral 10 c indicates a middle portion. Numeral 10 d indicates a second raised portion. Numeral 10 e indicates an exposed flap.

Concealed Flap 10 a is disposed adjacent to First Raised Portion 10 b. Exposed Flap 10 e is disposed adjacent to Second Raised Portion 10 d. Middle Portion 10 c is disposed between First Raised Portion 10 b and Second Raised Portion 10 d.

Concealed Flap 10 a, Middle Portion 10 c and Exposed Flap 10 e are positioned in substantially the same plane. First Raised Portion 10 b is positioned in substantially the same plane as Second Raised Portion 10 d.

For the sake of simplicity, Second Strip 20 through Eight Strip 80 are not shown. However, similarly to First Strip 10, each of the Second Strip 20 through Eight Strip 80 are also formed from curved plywood and comprise a top surface and a bottom surface. Each of the Second Strip 20 through Eight Strip 80 also comprise a concealed flap, a first raised portion, a middle portion, a second raised portion and an exposed flap. For example, Fifth Strip 50 comprises Concealed Flap 50 a, First Raised Portion 50 b, Middle Portion 50 c, Second Raised Portion 50 d and Exposed Flap 50 e, etc.

Further, in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, First Strip 10 through Eight Strip 80 are shown as having substantially identical size. It is not critical that First Strip 10 through Eight Strip 80 be of a substantially identical size, they can slightly differ in size.

Viewing again FIG. 1, the top surface of Concealed Flap 10 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion 50 d.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 20 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion 80 b.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 30 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion 50 b.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 40 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion 80 d.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 50 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion 40 d.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 60 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion 10 b.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 10 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion 40 b.

The top surface of Concealed Flap 80 a is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion 10 d.

Viewing now, simultaneously, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, numeral 90 indicates a nail. The exposed flaps of one tile (shown on the right side of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) are nailed to the surface with Nails 90. The exposed flaps of the next tile (shown on the left side of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) are slidably inserted into the first and second raised portions on the strip on the first tile, thus covering the nails and creating a seamless continuous appearance shown in FIG. 4. The subsequent tiles are installed in the same fashion.

While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects. 

1. A plurality of tiles, each comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth strips, all formed from curved plywood and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth strips comprises: a concealed flap; a first raised portion; a middle portion; a second raised portion; an exposed flap; wherein the concealed flap is disposed adjacent to the first raised portion, the exposed flap is disposed adjacent to the second raised portion and the middle portion is disposed between the first raised portion and the second raised portion such that the concealed flap, the middle portion and the exposed flap are positioned in substantially the same plane, and such that the first raised portion is positioned in substantially the same plane as the second raised portion; wherein: the top surface of the concealed flap of the first strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the second strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the eighth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the third strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fourth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the eight strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fifth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the sixth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the first strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the seventh strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the eighth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the first strip; wherein the plurality if tiles are for covering a surface such that at least two exposed flaps of each tile are for receiving nails for fixedly attaching to the surface and at least two exposed flaps of each tile are for slidably inserting into the first and second raised portions on a next tile, such that the nails in the exposed flaps are covered and the plurality if tiles creates a seamless continuous appearance. 